April 2018 Logan County FSA Updates

[May 15, 2018]    Logan County Hiring Full-Time Temporary Position - The Logan County USDA Farm Service Agency Office is accepting applications for a Program Technician position. This is a Full-Time TEMPORARY position with responsibilities for carrying out general office activities and technical functions pertaining to FSA administered programs. Salary range is $12.74-$16.00 per hour.

If you are interested, or know someone who is, employment applications (FSA-675) are available at:

Logan County Farm Service Agency
USDA Service Center
1650 5th Street
Lincoln, IL 62656

Applications are also available online at:

www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/
fm_ct_ 001_02212014.pdf 

or

www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/
fsa 675.doc. 

Applications and resumes will be accepted and considered, if submitted to the Logan County FSA office by 4:30 pm, Friday, April 30th, 2018.

We recognize and appreciate the benefits of diversity in the workplace. People who share this belief and reflect a diverse background are encouraged to apply.

The USDA/FSA is an Equal Opportunity Provider, Employer, and Lender.

Sign Your ARC/PLC Contracts Before Planting Begins

Beginning November 1, 2017, farmers and ranchers with base acres in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) safety net program began enrollment for the 2018 crop year. The enrollment period will end on August 1, 2018.

Since shares and ownership of a farm can change year-to-year, producers must enroll each year by signing a contract for the current program year.

Producers not enrolled by August 1, 2018 will not be eligible for financial assistance from the ARC or PLC programs for the 2018 crop should crop prices or farm revenues fall below the historical price or revenue benchmarks established by the program. Producers who made their elections in previous years must still enroll during the 2018 enrollment period.

The ARC and PLC programs were authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and offer a safety net to agricultural producers when there is a substantial drop in prices or revenues for covered commodities. Covered commodities include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium grain rice (which includes short grain and sweet rice), safflower seed, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat. Upland cotton is no longer a covered commodity. For more details regarding these programs, go to www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.

Please call our office at 217-735-5508 ext. 2 to inquire about signing up, or just stop on by.

Supervised Credit

Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Loan programs are considered supervised credit. Unlike loans from a commercial lender, FSA loans are intended to be temporary in nature. Therefore, it is our goal to help you graduate to commercial credit, and our farm loan staff is available to help borrowers through training and credit counseling.

The FSA team will help borrowers identify their goals to ensure financial success. Through this process, FSA staff will advise borrowers in developing strategies and a plan to meet your operation’s goals and graduate to commercial credit. Ultimately, the borrower is responsible for the success of the farming operation, but FSA’s staff will help in an advisory role to provide the tools necessary to help you achieve your operational goals and manage your finances.

For more information on FSA farm loan programs, visit www.fsa.usda.gov.

Communication is Key in Lending

Farm Service Agency (FSA) is committed to providing our farm loan borrowers the tools necessary to be a success. A part of ensuring this success is providing guidance and counsel from the loan application process through the borrower’s graduation to commercial lending institutions. While it is FSA’s commitment to advise borrowers as they identify goals and evaluate progress, it is crucial for borrowers to communicate with their farm loan staff when changes occur. It is the borrower’s responsibility to alert FSA to any of the following:

• Any proposed or significant changes in the farming operation;

• Any significant changes to family income or expenses;

• The development of problem situations;

• Any losses or proposed significant changes in security In addition, if a farm loan borrower cannot make payments to suppliers, other creditors, or FSA on time, contact your farm loan staff immediately to discuss loan servicing options. For more information on FSA farm loan programs, visit www.fsa.usda.gov.

Important Dates to Remember

• April 15 - Primary Nesting Season begins (Don't disturb CRP acres from April 15th-Aug 1st)

• May 28 - Memorial Day - Office Closed

• May 31 - Final Date to Apply for Marketing Assistance Loan for 2017 fall harvested crops

• July 15 - Crop Certification Deadline

• Continuous - Farm Record Changes

• Continuous - Farm Storage Facility Loan Applications

Logan County FSA Office
1650 5th Street
Lincoln, IL, 62656
Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Phone: [phone] ext. 2
Fax:[phone]

County Committee:
Kenton Stoll - Chairman
Dennis Ramlow - Vice Chairman
Tim Southerlan - Member
Dorothy Gleason - Advisor

County Executive Director:
John Peters

Program Technicians:
Ann Curry
Tammy Edwards
Chelsie Peddicord

Farm Loan Manager:
Tony Schmillen

Next County Committee Meeting: TBD due to planting season

Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in any meeting should contact John Peters, CED, at 217-735-5508 extension 2 or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339, 3 days prior to the scheduled meeting.

Questions?
Please contact, John Peters,
County Executive Director,
at 217-735-5508 ext 2,
[e-mail]

or for Farm Loans, please contact
Tony Schmillen,
Farm Loan Manager,
at 217-735-5508 ext 2, [e-mail].

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call [phone] (Toll-free Customer Service), [phone] (Local or Federal relay), [phone] (Relay voice users).